Trump says he would consider bombing Iran again, drops sanctions relief plan
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US President Donald Trump speaking to the media at the White House on June 27.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump sharply criticised Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on June 27, dropped plans to lift sanctions on Iran and said he would consider bombing Iran again if Tehran is enriching uranium to worrisome levels.
Mr Trump reacted sternly to Ayatollah Khamenei’s first remarks United States launched bombing raids
Mr Khamenei said Iran “slapped America in the face” by launching an attack against a major US base in Qatar following the US bombing raids. Mr Khamenei also said Iran would never surrender.
Mr Trump said he had spared Mr Khamenei’s life. US officials told Reuters on June 15 that Mr Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to kill the Supreme Leader.
“His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the US Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life,” Mr Trump said in a social media post.
“I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH.”
Iran said a potential nuclear deal was conditional on the US ending its “disrespectful tone” toward the Supreme Leader.
“If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt followers,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X in the early hours of June 28.
Mr Trump also said that in recent days he had been working on the possible removal of sanctions on Iran to give it a chance for a speedy recovery. He said he had now abandoned that effort.
“I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more,” he said.
Mr Trump said at a White House news conference that he did not rule out attacking Iran again, when asked about the possibility of new bombing of Iranian nuclear sites if this was thought to be necessary at some point.
“Sure, without question, absolutely,” he said.
Mr Trump said he would like inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or another respected source to be able to inspect Iran’s nuclear sites after they were bombed last weekend.
Mr Trump has rejected any suggestion that damage to the sites was not as profound as he has said.
The agency’s chief, Mr Rafael Grossi, said on June 25 that ensuring the resumption of IAEA inspections was his top priority as none had taken place since Israel began bombing
However, Iran’s Parliament approved moves on June 25 to suspend such inspections. Mr Araghchi indicated on June 27 that Tehran may reject any request
Mr Trump said Iran still wants to meet about the way forward. The White House had said on June 26 that no meeting between the US and an Iranian delegation has been scheduled thus far. REUTERS
